Shloka 24
शकुनि: पाण्डुपुत्राभ्यां कृत: स विमुख: शरै: । न सम जानाति कर्तुाव्यं युद्धे किंचित् पराक्रमम्,पाण्डुकुमार नकुल और सहदेवने अपने बाणोंद्वारा शकुनिको युद्धसे विमुख कर दिया। उस समय उसे युद्धविषयक कर्तव्यका ज्ञान न रहा और न कुछ पराक्रमका ही भान हुआ
śakuniḥ pāṇḍuputrābhyāṃ kṛtaḥ sa vimukhaḥ śaraiḥ | na sama jānāti kartavyaṃ yuddhe kiṃcit parākramam ||
Sañjaya said: Struck by the arrows of the two sons of Pāṇḍu, Nakula and Sahadeva, Śakuni was driven back from the fight. In that moment he no longer discerned what ought to be done in battle, nor did he retain any sense of valor—his judgment and resolve were shaken under the force of their assault.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
In war, mere physical injury is not the only defeat: when clarity about kartavya (what must be done) collapses, courage and effective action also fail. The verse highlights how dharma in battle requires steadiness of judgment; losing composure leads to loss of prowess.
Sañjaya reports that Nakula and Sahadeva strike Śakuni with arrows so forcefully that he turns away from the fight. Overwhelmed, Śakuni momentarily loses awareness of his battlefield duty and cannot display valor.